Supersonic skydive attempt scrubbed by gusty winds

Oct. 9, 2012
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Dawn light begins to show over the balloon capsule in Roswell, N.M., prior to the inflation of the balloon that is expected to lift Felix Baumgartner to an altitude of 120,000 feet, from which he hopes to make a record-breaking, supersonic skydive later today. / Matt York AP

by Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY

by Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY

The attempt by Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner to set a free-fall skydiving record was scrubbed Tuesday because of gusty winds at the launch site in Roswell, N.M.

The attempt had been delayed at dawn for five hours because of weather conditions, but then resumed about 10:18 a.m. MT. In the meantime, the project team also had problems with one of the two radio to be used to communicate with Baumgartner during the mission.

Update at 1:51 p.m. ET: Baumgartner removes his helmet and steps from the capsule, then heads to his personal trailer.

Update at 1:47 p.m. ET: Inside the capsule, Baumgartner -- who was visible on a closed-circuit TV -- smiled briefly then began unbuckling his suit to climb out.

Update at 1:42 p.m. ET: Skydive attempt scrubbed for today because of gusty winds at the launch site in New Mexico.

Update at 1:28 p.m. ET: "I am strapped into the capsule, and I am ready to go," skydiver Felix Baumgartner tells Joe Kittinger in Mission Control. Kittinger is the record holder for a free fall of 19.5 miles set in 1960. Baumgartner is attempting 23 miles.

Update at 1:05 p.m. ET: Felix Baumgartner has entered the capsule in which he will be lofted into the stratosphere by a helium balloon.

Update at 12:57 p.m. ET: The launch of the helium balloon is now expected for 11:40 a.m. MT (1:40 p.m. ET)

Update at 12:26 p.m. ET: Baumgartner has begun an hour and a half of "pre-breathing" in the pressurized capsule that he will ride to the stratosphere for his jump.

Update at 12:18 p.m. ET: "Countdown is officially back on," the project managers tweeted. " Felix is in his suit and expected launch at 11:15 am MDT." That would be at 1:15 p.m. ET.

Update at 12:10 p.m. ET: The capsule that will carry Baumgartner aloft in a helium balloon is "on the move," according to the project website, indicating that it is being positioned for the liftoff attempt.

Update at 12:04 p.m. ET: Skydiver Felix Baumbartner is in his trailer getting into his pressurized suit, further indication that the jump is likely to take place today, according to the official website for the project.

Earlierl post: Because the helium balloon is both expensive and non-reusable, the team would not likely move so far along in the preparations unless there was a good chance for a jump today, USA TODAY's Marco della Cava reports.

If the team gets a final go-ahead, it will take them about two hours to inflate the balloon.

Original post: After liftoff aboard a helium balloon, it will take the 43-year-old extreme athlete, encased in a pressurized capsule, about two hours to reach his 120,000-foot jumping-off point.

After diving into the stratosphere, Baumgartner is expected to reach a speed of 690 mph or more before he activates his parachute at 9,500 feet above sea level, or about 5,000 above the ground.

The total jump should take about 10 minutes.

Baumgartner spent Monday at his hotel, mentally preparing for the dive with his parents, girlfriend and four close friends, according to team members, the Associated Press reports.

Among the risks: Any contact with the capsule on his exit could tear the pressurized suit. A rip could expose him to a lack of oxygen and temperatures as low as 70 degrees below zero. It could cause potentially lethal bubbles to form in his bodily fluids, a condition known as "boiling blood."